OpenAnyFile
What is a .gslides file?
Google Slides Shortcut is a shortcut format developed by Google, first released in 2012. It is usually created by Google Drive for desktop.
A JSON link to a Google Slides deck. Backing up .gslides files backs up only the links.
File details
| Full name | Google Slides Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Category | Shortcuts & links |
| MIME type | application/vnd.google-apps.presentation |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 7B ({) |
| Developer | |
| Introduced | 2012 |
| Opens with | Link decoder |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .gslides file
OpenAnyFile routes .gslides files to its link decoder, which shows the address the shortcut points to.
- Drop your .gslides file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the link decoder.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: the address the shortcut points to. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Editing and saving back. OpenAnyFile is a viewer, not an editor — for changes you still need the original app.
Is it safe to open a .gslides file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .gslides files
Can I open a .gslides file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .gslides files in your browser using its link decoder. You get the address the shortcut points to, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .gslides file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine GSLIDES file begins with 7B ({). OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .gslides file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.